Appliance and furniture floor skis

ABSTRACT

An appliance and furniture floor ski having a pair of pads spaced from one another and connected together by a longitudinal member. Each pad has associated with it a recess forming a socket arranged for receiving one of a pair of appliance and furniture supports, such as coasters. The pads, which may cooperate with the longitudinal member to present a continuous surface, are arranged contacting an article supporting surface, such as a floor, for protecting that surface during displacement of the article. One of the recesses is elongated to permit the ski to receive pairs of article supports of varying spacing, and inserts may be arranged in the recesses for varying the size of the sockets. The pads are advantageously attached to the longitudinal member as by a pin, or pins, arranged in a hole, or holes, provided in the member, so that the length of the member may be sized as desired and a suitable pad added to same.

United States Patent 11 1 England 1 APPLIANCE AND FURNITURE FLOOR SKIS Harold H. England, 8403-135 St., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5R-0B6 [76] Inventor:

Primary ExaminerPaul R. Gilliam Assistant ExaminerDoris L. Troutman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien;

Harvey B. Jacobson [451 May 20, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT An appliance and furniture floor ski having a pair of pads spaced from one another and connected together by a longitudinal member. Each pad has associated with it a recess forming a socket arranged for receiving one of a pair of appliance and furniture supports, such as coasters. The pads, which may cooperate with the longitudinal member to present a continuous surface, are arranged contacting an article supporting surface, such as a floor, for protecting that surface during displacement of the article. One of the recesses is elongated to permit the ski to receive pairs of article supports of varying spacing, and inserts may be arranged in the recesses for varying the size of the sockets. Thepads are advantageously attached to the iongitudinal member as by a pin, or pins, arranged in a hole, or holes, provided in the member, so that the length of the member may be sized as desired and a suitable pad added to same.

3 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures mama mews-1% SHEEI 2 OF 3 APPLIANCE AND FURNITURE FLOOR SKIS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a reversible ski or double coaster which facilitates both resting of articles such as household appliances and furniture without their damaging flooring, and the like, on which they are arranged, and the easy movement of these articles forward, backward, and sideways over any type of floor covering-especially linoleum, tile, carpet, and the like-without damage to the floor covering.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is well known that fixed appliance coasters and furniture legs, as well as certain kinds of casters, dig holes in almost all floor coverings while at rest or while movement is taking place. Further, known devices intended for arrangement between an article support and a floor covering do little to facilitate the movement of the article across the floor surface. One risks personal injury when trying to move such items as refrigerators and pianos.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a device intended for arrangement between an article and a surface supporting the article for protecting the surface and permitting the article to be easily moved over the surface without damaging it.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a reversible ski or reversible double-coaster having sockets on its upper surface at either end for receiving conventional furniture legs and fixed appliance coasters and capturing them in the shallow sockets thus provided and holding them without any mechanical attachment.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a reversible double coaster which may have, if desired, one of the sockets either duplicated or elongated to allow for the reception of furniture legs and fixed appliance coasters spaced from one another at various distances and allow the ski or double-coaster to be associated with various items. Once the front, for example, fixed appliance coaster or furniture leg is inserted into an unelongated socket, the rear, for example, fixed appliance coaster or furniture leg arranged in an elongated socket will be unable to move about in the latter socket due to its fixed relationship with respect to the front coaster or leg.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible ski or reversible double-coaster having a foot pad forming the sockets at either end of sufficient surface area to distribute the weight of the furniture or appliance over a large enough area to prevent damage to any type of floor covering on which the arti cle is resting or over which it is being moved.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the weight bearing foot pads with a contact surface which will reduce surface friction in a manner dependent on the kind of floor covering on which the pad is resting, thus allowing easy movement of the appliance or furniture over the covering. This may be done by, for example, making the foot pads completely smooth, longitudinally ribbed, or bubbled in dependence on the type of surface involved.

Another object of the present invention is to design the member connecting the foot pads in such a manner that it has sufficient strength to prevent the foot pads from twisting, turning, or digging into the floor covering while forward, backward, or lateral movement is taking place.

Another object of the present invention is to elevate the memberjoining the foot pads in such a manner that it remains spaced from the supporting surface or floor covering and does not bear weight. This will assure that this member does not dig into the floor covering, especially a carpet, when movement of the furniture or appliance takes place. This is particularly pertinent during lateral movements of appliance or furniture on a carpet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible ski or double-coaster which allows for easy placement of the rear article coasters or legs, which may not be easily accessible, into their associated socket from the appliance or furniture. The entire double-coaster may be put in place from the front of the article.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which will permit all appliances and furniture to be easily moved over any kind of floor covering without causing personal injury.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible double-coaster which is strong, flexible, and inexpensive, while pleasing to the eye. While any suitable, known material may be advantageously used, a clear or colored synthetic is desirable as they have proven to be ideal in most circumstances. A clear material will allow the floor coloring to shine through the front end of the device, and render them almost invisible.

Another object of the present invention is to keep appliances and furniture at a minimum elevation from a supporting surface. In most cases, reversible doublecoasters according to the present invention will elevate the fixed appliance coaster or furniture leg no more than one quarter of an inch above the supporting surface. This is substantially less than the clearance permitted by conventional wheeled devices employed to move large appliances and furniture, and enhances the aesthetic appearance of the stationary item.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ski or doublecoaster having one of its foot pads, advantageously that to be arranged to the rear of the appliance or furniture, which is very long as manufactured and may be shortened by the purchaser to fit a wide range of furniture and lighter appliances. This may be done by designing the posterior foot pad as a plurality of socket defining pads connected by scored lines. This will allow the purchaser to adapt the ski to fit a wide range of lighter appliances and furniture by removing the pads which extend beyond the spacing of the article supports to be received by the associated sockets.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a double-coaster which may be subject to almost infinite pleasing designs, especially for furniture, and still be functional in every respect.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator supported by skis according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a ski according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view showing the ski of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing a modified embodiment of an appliance and furniture floor ski according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view, similar to FIG. 7, showing yet another embodiment of an appli' ance and furniture floor ski according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, perspective view, similar to FIGS. 7 and 8, showing yet another embodiment of an appliance and furniture floor ski according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view showing still another embodiment of an appliance and furniture floor ski according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view showing the embodiment of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 12-12 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line l313 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a section view taken generally along the line 14-14 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary, perspective, detail view, showing a preferred feature according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 of the drawings shows a refrigerator 10 having conventional coasters 12 arranged engaging skis 14 according to the present invention for being supported on a conventional floor 15, and the like.

An appliance and furniture floor ski 14 according to the present invention has pads 16 and 18 connected together by a longitudinal member 20. This ski 14 is advantageously, although not necessarily, constructed in a conventional manner as by injection molding from a suitable, known synthetic material such as polymethyl methacrylate. Member 20 is advantageously arranged extending between pads 16 and 18 so as to be spaced from the floor 15 or other supporting surface. This feature is best seen from the showing of pads 16 and 18 and member 20 in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

Each pad 16, 18 has parallel faces 22, 24 and 26, 28, respectively. Faces 22 and 24 are provided with recesses and 32 forming sockets arranged for receiving an article support, such as coasters 12 of refrigerator 10, while faces 26, 28 are arranged contacting an article supporting surface such as floor 15 for protecting same during resting and displacement of an article such as refrigerator l0. Recess 30 may be elongated, as is shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, in a direction extending toward the other of the pads for permitting the pads to receive article supports, or coasters 12, of different spacings.

The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 of the drawings has faces 26, 28 of pads l6, 18 provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves 34 arranged extending toward the other of the pads l8, 16 to form a plurality of ribs 36. Since grooves 34 are cut into the faces 26, 28, ribs 36 form an interrupted flat surface particularly suited for carrying heavy loads on tile and linoleum.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, a ski 14 according to the present invention may be provided with a pad or pads such as pad 38 having a smooth face 40 arranged. for contacting a supporting surface such as floor 15. Further, the leading and trailing edges of the pads are rounded, as is clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. This smooth face 40 may be used with any conventional supporting surface except when heavy loads are to be supported on tile and linoleum.

FIG. 8 of the drawings shows a pad 42 provided with a plurality of protuberances 44, which may be thought of as bubbles, which form a supporting surface contacting face especially suited for use with tile, linoleum, and carpets. Further the pads could be eliminated (not shown) or the longitudinal connecting member not be elevated (not shown) so as to furnish a larger bearing surface required by some kinds of conventional floor- FIG. 9 of the drawings shows a plurality of pads 46 of the grooved kind connected together in series as along scored lines 48 for selective separation. These socket-forming pads 46 are arranged extending away from the other pad forming the ski, and may be cut off along any of the scored lines 48 as by sawing, or fracturing, to remove pads 46 in excess of those needed to extend the ski between a particular pair of article supports. Scored lines 48 permit this removal to be accomplished as by cutting off the excess or fracturing off the excess depending on the material used.

Alternatively to the plurality of pads 46, it is to be understood that an elongated recess such as recess 30 could have any excess portion cut off as by a conventional saw if so desired. The saw cut would be made at, for example, an acute angle (not shown) in order to preserve the ski end. Since the unelongated recess 32 would prevent the article supports from shifting with respect to the ski, the opening of the outer end of recess 30 would not affect the relationship of the ski and the article supports.

FIGS. 10 to 12 show a ski 50 having an elongated recess 52 provided in a plate 54 either fastened to or forming a part of an elongated member 56. This elongated recess 52 may be cut off in, for example, the manner set out in the preceding paragraph. Alternatively, a plurality of score lines are provided in plate 54 and elongated member 56 for facilitating a cutting operation or fracturing off the excess depending on the material used. Since ski 50 has associated with it a moveable foot pad 58, designed with ski ends and having dowel or pins 60 which may be selectively inserted into predetermined holes 62 provided in elongated member 56, the cut or fracture in member 56 and plate 54 does not have to be at an acute angle. The ski 50 is merely cut or fractured to the length desired, and pad 58 arranged in holes 62 so as to be, for example, arranged as close as possible to the cut or fractured end of the ski. The end of elongated member 56 spaced from that provided with plate 54 and holes 62 may be furnished with a pad 66 and a boss 64 provided with a socket. Like plate 54, boss 64 may either be fastened to or form a part of member 56. Although pad 66 is shown as affixed to elongated member 56, it is to be understood that this pad 66 may be attached to the elongated member with pins and cooperating holes in the manner of pad 58. It is also to be understood that pads 58 and 66 may have a floor engaging surface constructed in, for example, the manner of any of the pad embodiments described above, and pads may be interchanged so that a specific type of padsmooth, ribbed, or bubbled-may be attached to a given elongated member 56 for use with a specific floor covering. A ski 50 could, for example, be marketed with a set of pads (not shown) for permitting the ski to be employed on any conventional kind of floor covering. The user would merely select a pad and snap the dowels or pins of that pad into the cooperating holes provided in the elongated member of the ski, after first reducing the length of the member if necessary.

FIGS. and 13I5 show an advantageous feature of the present invention which permits sockets in a ski to be varied in size. In particular, FIGS. 10 and 13 show an insert element 68 forming a, for example, pair of concentric rings 70 and 72 arranged in an opening 74 provided in boss 64. Although only a pair of rings are shown in insert element 68, it is to be understood that any suitable, desired number of rings may be used. By snapping one or more rings out of the center of insert element 68, the diameter of the receiving opening may be varied. FIGS. 14 and 15 show an annular insert 76 which may be snapped into a socket such as elongated recess 52 to reduce the size of an article-receiving opening. An annular insert 76 may be made with a standard outer diameter to fit a standard recess. The concentric rings may be formed as part of a socket instead of as a special insert, and the innermost ring or rings may be removed as by prying out same with a screwdriver (not shown), and the like.

Various aesthetic modifications may be made to the basic skis shown in the drawings. For example, the pads could be circular in plan and have sculptured peripherres.

As can be readily appreciated, and as shown in the drawings, all pads 16, 18, 38, 42, 46, 58, and 66 have their end and side edges rounded to eliminate sharp corner points and facitlitate both longitudinal and lateral movement of the ski.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A reversible appliance and furniture floor ski, comprising, in combination:

a. first and second means, each including a pad, for

movably supporting a spaced pair of article supports and allowing sliding movement of the article supports, each pad having parallel top and bottom faces, the top face of each pad being provided with a recess forming a socket arranged for receiving an article support and the bottom face provided with a pair of substantially parallel rounded edges and means for slidably contacting an article supporting surface for protecting same during resting and displacement of the article, the recess of one of the pads being elongated in a direction extending toward the other of the pads for permitting the pads to receive supports of different spacings, the rounded edges being transverse of the direction of elongation and forming leading and trailing edges of the pads; and

b. substantially rigid tieing means affixed to each pad for connecting together the first and second movably supporting means with sufficient strength to prevent the pads from twisting, turning, and digging into the article supporting surface, the tieing means being a longitudinal member arranged extending between and connected to the pads, and spaced from the article supporting surface.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the other face is provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves arranged extending toward the other of the pads.

3. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the other face is provided with a plurality of protuberances contacting the supporting surfaces. 

1. A reversible appliance and furniture floor ski, comprising, in combination: a. first and second means, each including a pad, for movably supporting a spaced pair of article supports and allowing sliding movement of the article supports, each pad having parallel top and bottom faces, the top face of each pad being provided with a recess forming a socket arranged for receiving an article support and the bottom face provided with a pair of substantially parallel rounded edges and means for slidably contacting an article supporting surface for protecting same during resting and displacement of the article, the recess of one of the pads being elongated in a direction extending toward the other of the pads for permitting the pads to receive supports of different spacings, the rounded edges being transverse of the direction of elongation and forming leading and trailing edges of the pads; and b. substantially rigid tieing means affixed to each pad for connecting together the first and second movably supporting means with sufficient strength to prevent the pads from twisting, turning, and digging into the article supporting surface, the tieing means being a longitudinal member arranged extending between and connected to the pads, and spaced from the article supporting surface.
 2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the other face is provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves arranged extending toward the other of the pads.
 3. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the other face is provided with a plurality of protuberances contacting the supporting surfaces. 